TubeX-med

FAQ

Frequently Asked Question

A nephrostomy tube insertion is a medical procedure in which a thin tube is placed through the skin directly into the kidney to allow urine drainage. It is typically performed when a blockage prevents urine from passing from the kidney to the bladder. Without treatment, such obstruction can cause serious complications that may become life-threatening.

Accidental removal of a nephrostomy tube can be dangerous and may lead to serious complications. Sudden displacement interrupts urine drainage from the kidney, which can cause obstruction (hydronephrosis), resulting in severe pain, fever, and potentially life-threatening infection or sepsis if not treated promptly.
It may also cause bleeding from the kidney, urine leakage into surrounding tissues and direct injury to the kidney. In severe cases, infected urine leaking into the abdominal cavity can lead to peritonitis.
Because of these risks, emergency medical evaluation and often reinsertion of the tube are urgently required to restore proper kidney drainage and prevent further complications.

Despite the use of adhesive dressings and sutures to secure nephrostomy tubes, these traditional methods are often insufficient and do not fully meet patient comfort or safety needs. Studies report that up to 25% of nephrostomy tubes are unintentionally dislodged, highlighting the need for improved fixation techniques and patient-centered solutions.

The risk of pressure sores (pressure ulcers) from a typical nephrostomy tube stabilizer is relatively low but not insignificant. While specific data focused solely on nephrostomy devices are limited, studies on device-related pressure injuries in general report variable rates—from approximately 5% to over 30%, depending on the type of medical device, patient factors, and duration of use. Regular monitoring of the skin around the fixation site is therefore essential to prevent local irritation and ulcer formation.

Although the precise number of nephrostomy tube users worldwide is not well documented, market and epidemiological data offer useful estimates. The global nephrostomy device market was valued at approximately $1.4 billion in 2024, reflecting substantial and growing clinical use due to the increasing prevalence of kidney disease and urinary tract obstructions.

Considering that roughly 600,000 Americans experience kidney stones annually – some requiring nephrostomy drainage – this represents about 0.17% of the U.S. population. Extrapolated globally, this suggests that around 13 million individuals each year may require nephrostomy tubes for temporary or long-term urinary drainage.
Overall, several million patients worldwide are estimated to use nephrostomy tubes annually, underscoring their critical role in managing renal and urinary tract conditions.

Nephro-Safe™ is a unique innovative external device designed to securely attach the tube to the patient’s body and prevent tube dislodgment and extraction. It stabilizes the nephrostomy tube, minimizes internal tube movements reduces pain and discomfort, improves patient self-confidence and enhances quality of way of life – all while maintaining uninterrupted urine flow through the tube.

Thanks to its ultra slim design, Nephro-Safe™ is comfortable both during daily activity and while sleeping. Once the nephrostomy tube is placed in the device, the patient can feel fully protected and worry-free. It prevents accidental extraction, reduces infection and pain risk and improves patient confidence and quality of life.

The use of Nephro-Safe™ provides significant benefits to hospitals as well. It reduces costly tubes reinsertions and unnecessary hospital admissions, while at the same time improving patient safety and overall clinical outcomes. In addition, it helps lower staff workload and minimizes the time spent managing complications, allowing medical teams to focus more effectively on patient care.

Nephro-Safe™ is designed for patients with nephrostomy tubes placed for urinary drainage due to kidney obstruction or other conditions requiring percutaneous nephrostomy. The device stabilizes the tube on the skin, helping prevent accidental dislodgment and enhancing patient comfort.
In addition, Nephro-Safe™ is suitable for use with other external drainage catheters – such as abscess, gallbladder, or biliary drains – of similar caliber to renal drainage tubes.

No. Nephro-Safe™ is engineered to secure the nephrostomy tube without obstructing urine flow. It maintains unobstructed drainage from the kidney to the collection bag while providing reliable fixation and minimizing the risk of tube displacement.

Since Nephro-Safe™ is secured outside the body, Nephro-safe™ does not require sterilization like invasive medical devices. Standard cleaning and hygiene protocols should be followed to keep the device and surrounding skin clean, but sterilization is not necessary.

Nephro-Safe™ can remain secured to the patient drain for the entire duration that the nephrostomy tube is needed, under appropriate medical supervision which may range from a few days up to a month, depending on the patient’s condition. It is designed to securely support the tube throughout its indwelling period with periodic checks and adjustments by healthcare providers.

Yes. Nephro-Safe™ can be replaced without replacing the nephrostomy tube itself. Nephro-Safe is designed as a stabilizer for the nephrostomy tube and can be changed or replaced independently to maintain securement, without the need for a full nephrostomy tube exchange which is a separate medical procedure.

It is not recommended, but the nephrostomy tube can be replaced without replacing the Nephro-Safe™ stabilizer, which is designed to be compatible with tube exchanges and to maintain securement throughout the process. 

Nephro-Safe™ complies with international standards, including ISO 13485, FDA, CE Mark, and Amar.

Nephro-safe™ will be available globally in 2026.

You may contact Tubex to find your local distributor. Refer to your local distributor in order to purchase Nephro-Safe™.

You may contact Tubex to explore the possibility of becoming a local distributor.